Where we extract broken keys
Front door deadbolts, lever locks, sliding glass doors, garage entry doors. Mailbox locks (USPS Cluster Box Units and Florence-brand). File cabinet, desk, and office furniture locks (Hon, Steelcase, Knoll). Car door cylinders. Car ignition cylinders (most challenging — see below). Padlocks (Abus, Master Lock, generic). Safe locks (mechanical dial and electronic with key override). Outdoor utility locks (gate locks, shed locks). About 60% of our extraction calls are residential door/deadbolt, 25% automotive ignition/door, and 15% miscellaneous (padlocks, mailboxes, office furniture, safes).
Ignition cylinder extraction — the hardest scenario
A key broken inside a car's ignition is the hardest extraction we handle. The cylinder is buried under the steering column trim, accessible only through the keyway slot, and any debris pushed deeper can foul the wafers permanently. Our process: (1) assess fragment depth using a borescope camera (most fragments sit 8-15mm into the keyway), (2) apply a thin spiral extractor tool through the keyway, (3) rotate-pull in millimeter increments — the spiral catches the fragment's cut edges and walks it back out, (4) if the fragment is flush or below flush, use a hooked pick from the side, (5) once removed, test cylinder rotation and inspect wafers via borescope before reinstalling key. Time: 30-75 minutes. Cost: $80-$150.
What to do (and NOT do) before we arrive
DO NOT use glue, tape, or magnets to try to pull the fragment out — glue fouls the cylinder, magnets won't work on most key alloys (brass and nickel-silver are non-magnetic). DO NOT insert another key hoping to 'push around' the fragment — this drives it deeper. DO NOT spray WD-40 or oil — it picks up brass shavings and turns into abrasive paste inside the cylinder. DO photograph the cylinder from outside if possible — text us the image so we can prep the right tool before arrival. DO save the broken half of the key — we can sometimes use it as a template to cut a fresh key on-site after extraction. DO keep the area dry if outdoors — water plus brass shavings accelerates corrosion.
Common Broken Key Extraction Scenarios
Real situations we handle multiple times per week from our Fort Collins base.
- ✓Front door deadbolt — key snapped in cold weather
- ✓Car ignition — key broke during morning start
- ✓Car door cylinder — locked out and key snapped while turning
- ✓Mailbox lock — USPS Cluster Box Unit (CBU) lock
- ✓Padlock on shed / gate / outbuilding
- ✓File cabinet or office furniture lock
- ✓Safe lock with key override (mechanical dial backup)
- ✓Sliding glass door secondary lock
- ✓Storage unit padlock
- ✓RV / camper door lock
- ✓Motorcycle ignition key broken
- ✓Old building original mortise lock from 1920s
Broken Key Extraction Pricing — Flat-Rate, No Surcharges
The price quoted on the phone is the price you pay. Quote before any work begins, always.
Our 5-Step Broken Key Extraction Process
Call (970) 397-2002 with photo if possible
Send a photo of the broken key + cylinder if you can. Helps us prep the right extractor size.
Mobile dispatch in 20-30 min
Marked van arrives. Technician brings spiral extractors in 3-4 sizes plus borescope camera.
Assess fragment depth + position
Borescope inspection or visual check. Determines extraction approach.
Spiral extractor through keyway
10-30 minutes for most extractions. Ignition cylinders take up to 75 min.
Test cylinder + optional new key
Verify lock operation. Cut a fresh key from the broken half if needed ($5-$30 add-on).
Why Fort Collins Calls 970 Locksmith for Broken Key Extraction
- ✓Non-destructive default — 95%+ of extractions don't damage the cylinder. The lock keeps working after.
- ✓Borescope camera for ignition extractions — visually verify fragment position before tooling.
- ✓Multiple extractor sizes — we don't try to force one tool to work; we match tool to keyway type.
- ✓New key cut on-site from the broken half whenever possible ($5-$30 add-on instead of $30+ at hardware store).
- ✓Honest assessment — if the cylinder is too damaged to save after extraction, we tell you and quote replacement vs. rekey. No upselling.
- ✓Same flat rate 24/7 — no nighttime surcharge on extraction work.